Global cooperation will be required to launch an interstellar reconnaissance mission to the nearest solar system, using a powerful laser beam to propel tiny “nanocraft” to relativistic speeds. But the technology exists or is expected to be available within several years, according to Internet investor Yuri Milner’s Breakthrough Initiatives program.
In a major boost to the “Make in India” initiative, the U.S. on April 12 agreed to develop new partnerships in the pursuit of a range of cutting-edge projects, while India mulls two proposals from U.S. aerospace primes to bolster the country’s fighter production.
The European Space Agency's director general believes a “Moon Village," open to all, has a better chance of combining global resources for the more challenging and expensive push to Mars.
Space-policy panelists at the annual Space Symposium here used the nascent satellite-servicing industry as an example of the problems that arise when technology outstrips government oversight and regulation.
The Littoral Combat Ship LCS 3 USS Fort Worth will make preparations to get underway from Singapore under its own power and transit to San Diego this summer for an extensive repair period after the ship’s combining gears were significantly damaged in January.
India will launch its new Earth observation satellite, Cartosat-2C, in May, in an effort to boost the country’s military reconnaissance and surveillance capability.
The U.S. Air Force still needs to change its approach to setting requirements and providing funding for its space battle management and command and control (BMC2) efforts, according to the general who has tactical control of the Defense Department’s space operations.
Lockheed plans to flight test an improved version of its Miniature Hit-To-Kill (MHTK) missile in July as it readies the weapon for an expected U.S. Army competition for a counter rocket, artillery and mortar (C-RAM) interceptor.
A new Orbital ATK venture set up to develop commercial on-orbit satellite-servicing capabilities has signed Intelsat as its first paying customer, with launch of the initial Mission Extension Vehicle (MEV-1) to an out-of-service Intelsat bird as early as 2018.
As U.S. Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter and Indian Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar concluded meetings earlier this month during the Pentagon chief’s visit to India, the two countries agreed to strengthen their military and industrial defense bonds.
Lockheed Martin is leveraging power, environmental control, galley and waste compartment systems already under development for its Orion crew exploration capsule for an in-space habitat the company is developing under one of a dozen NASA commercial partnership agreements.
Oklahoma Republican Rep. Jim Bridenstine hopes to build consensus around space policy issues that could feed into a number of other bills – defense authorization, NASA reauthorization or FAA reauthorization — before the year is out.
